Newcastle Falcons
Club Details
Kingston Park
Brunton Road
Kenton Bank Foot
Newcastle
NE13 8AF
Stadium Capacity: 10,200
Website: www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk
Founded: 1995 (Gosforth formed in 1877)
- 2009/10 Season Preview -
Last year: An end-of-season finish of tenth place coupled with a quarter-final exit in European rugby's second tier competition did not make pretty reading for Newcastle supporters. This was a team very much in transition following the off-season sales of young English talent Mathew Tait and Toby Flood and whilst also being without crown jewel Jonny Wilkinson through injury, life was always going to be tough up north. Seven league games without a win early into the campaign hit them hard, however, during January they had started to buy into Steve Bates' thinking as six straight wins certainly proved.
This year: A bit of an overhaul has taken place at Kingston Park of late, with plenty of household names departing the north-east for clubs elsewhere in England, France, Spain and even Hong Kong. But what they have lost has been replaced with decent enough players such as Jimmy Gopperth and the free-running duo of youngsters Charlie Amesbury and Tom Biggs from Harlequins and Leeds respectively. It's the Guinness Premiership and European Challenge Cup once again this season for the Falcons but don't be surprised if they end up closer to the business end of both.
Coach: Former England scrum-half Steve Bates is enjoying his second stint at Newcastle and has converted the Falcons into a much more threatening crop. The 46-year-old, who was one half of the reason that Jonny Wilkinson began his professional rugby career up at Kingston Park, has installed a young but promising squad for the new term and he has the potential to maximise their potential.
Captain: Such is the impact made by the man from Otago that Carl Hayman has been installed Newcastle captain for the upcoming season. The All Black tighthead, who was the stand-out number three across the Guinness Premiership in 2008/09, needs another strong effort alongside Jon Golding if the results are to start pouring in. But will he there in 2010/11 or will he have one more crack at the World Cup?
One to watch: The obvious choices would of course be either Jimmy Gopperth or Carl Hayman, but the Kiwi back and forward's link man Brent Wilson continues to improve and should be a major player again this season. The openside flank, who came to England from New Zealand to study his A Levels at Kirkham Grammar School, possesses an excellent workrate and underrated skills to boot.
In: Josh Afu (Doncaster Knights), Charlie Amesbury (Harlequins), Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie), Gcobani Bobo (Stormers), Kieran Brookes (Fylde), Jimmy Gopperth (Blues), James Hudson (London Irish), Filipo Levi (Ospreys), Chris Micklewood (Brive), Laurence Ovens (Bath), Grant Shiells (Kelso), Michael Tait (Kelso), Rob Vickerman (Leeds Carnegie), Alex Walker (Saracens).
Out: Ross Batty (Rotherham), Ross Beattie (Released), Andy Buist (London Irish), Rory Clegg (Harlequins), Tom Dillon (Released), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Eni Gesinde (Released), James Grindal (Leicester Tigers), Steve Jones (Edinburgh), Andy Long (Rotherham), Tom May (Toulon), Joe McDonnell (Cetransa El Salvador), Jamie Noon (Brive), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ollie Phillips (Stade Français), John Rudd (Released), Joe Shaw (Hong Kong), Sean Tomes (Exeter Chiefs), Tim Visser (Edinburgh), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), David Wilson (Bath), Russell Winter (Retired), Andy Perry (London Irish).
Squad: Josh Afu, Charlie Amesbury, Adam Balding, Tom Biggs, Gcobani Bobo, Kieran Brookes, Peter Browne, Tom Catterick, Hall Charlton, Spencer Davey, Jon Golding, Jimmy Gopperth, Alex Gray, Carl Hayman, James Hudson, Filipo Levi, Chris Micklewood, Rob Miller, Laurence Ovens, Grant Shiells, Mark Sorenson, Tim Swinson, Alex Tait, Michael Tait, Matt Thompson, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Rob Vickerman, Rob Vickers, Alex Walker, Micky Ward, Will Welch, Danny Williams, Johnny Williams, Ed Williamson, Brent Wilson, Micky Young.